Voted Vancouver’s Best Arts Festival five year’s in a row by Georgia Straight readers, the Vancouver International Fringe Festival consistently delivers an eclectic mix of theatrical offerings. Over 550 performances by more than 80 different groups for 11 days make the Fringe Vancouver’s most diverse source of entertainment. Held in some of Vancouver’s best theatre venues, such as the Granville Island Stage, Performance Works and the Waterfront Theatre in the unique setting of Granville Island, the Vancouver International Fringe Festival is North America’s most international Fringe Festival and BC’s largest theatre festival.

Perryscope Concerts & Vogue Productions are peering beyond the three pieces and four pieces to bring Vancouver another memorable live show. Bruce Peninsula isn't just a band, but a march of metalophone, lap-steel, zithers, and bells. Of drums and sticks and any other oddities of interesting and pleasing tone. Voices blaring all the while. They will envelop The Media Club on Tuesday July 17. Bruce Peninsula will shake the typical from attendees and fill it with an experience.

Mrigya is a world music band from New Delhi. A rich blend of classical Hindustani, Qawwali, Blues & Jazz lends their music a unique texture woven by several cultures. Mrigya burst onto the international scene 11 years ago when they won the Herald Angel award for Best Music Act at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. They returned to the festival the following year, and won the Tap Water Award for music that promotes communal harmony. Since then, they have toured India and the world to much acclaim.

At the Indian Summer Festival, Mrigya returns to their roots by presenting an evening of Hindustani and Sufi music.

The first half of the evening will be a Sufi/Qawwali duet by Gulaam Qadar and Sukriti Sen, accompanied by Gyan Singh on the Tabla. Qawwali is a form of devotional singing rooted in the mystical tradition of the Sufis, for whom music is a powerful transformatory experience. Gulaam Qadar is one of the most sought after Qawwali singers, from the legendary Hapur Gharana. His ancestors were for centuries the court musicians to the Mughal emperors.Following an intermission, there will be a Hindustani violin recital by Sharat Chandra Srivastava, the foremost disciple of his illustrious grandfather Sri Joi Srivastava of the Senia Gharana (the same acclaimed group to which the likes of Ali Akbar Khan and Ravi Shankar belong).

A concert for those who believe that music transcends all borders.

Mrigya is presented in collaboration with the Vancouver Folk Music Festival, where Mrigya takes the stage over the weekend July 14-15.

From coast to coast and beyond, the electronic music spectrum has shifted radically to the low end, generating ribcage-rattling blasts from the underground on up. Tucked away in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, the Boulder-Denver-Ft.Collins triangle is the epicenter of this low-frequency onslaught, producing some of the biggest names in the game. At the top of the heap is Aaron Holstein, a.k.a. VibeSquaD, a musical juggernaut and fearless vanguard in a flourishing scene. Circling the globe with his wholly original brand of bass exploration, VibeSquaD is reaching wider and wider audiences with his studio tracks and out-of-control live shows.

The VibeSquaD sound is a sonic culmination of decades of experimentation, innovation, and a propensity for what’s next. Raised just outside of Chicago, Aaron Holstein was exposed to early house, techno, electro, and hip-hop, becoming a crate-digger at a young age. Breaking was an obsession for the youngster, who came up on Sugar Hill Gang, Al-Naafish, and Art of Noise. Late-night parties at the YMCA later brought the underground dance music of the Second City into Holstein’s life—cementing his love for sweaty basements, jam-packed with heads ready to cut loose.

When Holstein discovered psychedelic music, and the scope of jam, jazz—and most importantly, funk—the guitar never left his hands, practicing upwards of 8 hours of a day. For all things funky, Holstein turned to the mighty Ohio River, for Parliament/Funkadelic bassist and Cincinnati’s favorite son Bootsy Collins, as well as the Ohio Players. Frank Zappa became a fixation for the young guitarist. “One Size Fits All was a life changer,” Holstein admits. To smooth out the rough edges of his funk and prog idols, he turned to six-string legends George Benson, Grant Green, and the man, himself: West Montgomery.

Incursions into the world of progressive, instrumental music put him under the tutelage of some of the finest musicians and professors on the East Coast, including the inimitable Yusef Lateef. Those strong technical and compositional fundamentals form the basis of his intricate productions—belying the “simplicity” of his dance floor bangers. Relentless touring with groundbreaking acts put Aaron smack dab in the middle of the world inhabited by progressive percussionists Michael Travis and Jamie Janover. The resulting collaboration, Zilla, would change the industry forever, fusing the jam and electronic scenes with the trio’s brand of live trance and breaks.

Perpetually on the prowl for that new sound, Holstein was far ahead of the curve, adding his signature sound to the bass-heavy style that was filtering over from the U.K. The 2006 inception of VibeSquaD at Symbiosis put Holstein at the forefront of the burgeoning bass craze. From his discombobulating beats and minimalist, gurgling bass on “Domepiece” from 2007’s Return of the Pudding People, to the flexed out kicks and bombastic wobbles—replete with his own signature pitched up hip-hop vocals—of “Flipping Acrobats” on 2010’s The FIRE, VibeSquaD has maintained his position, poised on the cusp of the next big sound while staying true to his unique voice. Over time, Holstein has carved out a distinctive niche, which blends his love for all things bass music, with the funk obsession of his youth. This bouncy, glitched-up, and wobbled-out style is most apparent on his EP, Remix Mashers Vol. 1, which opens with a rehashing of Sly & the Family Stone’s “Family Affair.” With four full-lengths, four EPs, and a slew of remixes out on forward-thinking labels Muti Music, Interchill, and Proboscis, Holstein is as prolific as he is a pioneer.

That being said, studio tracks can’t begin to prepare fans for VibeSquaD’s outrageous live performances. Bobbing up and down uncontrollably, arms raised with a permagrin plastered across his face, Holstein hits the stage full throttle, and doesn’t let up until every last spot on the floor is packed with bodies exhausted from a marathon dance session. 2011 has been a breakout year for Aaron, with marquee performances at Sonic Bloom, Electric Forest, and Wakarusa, where he played a sunrise set for a massive crowd. “It was one of the coolest moments I’ve ever had playing live,” Holstein said, “to see everyone dancing as the sun came up—it’s rare to see people in that context.” VibeSquaD has supported huge acts like Pretty Lights, Bassnectar, EOTO, and Tipper, but with his recent addition to super-agent Hunter Williams’ Progressive Global Agency, the time has come for Aaron to step up and step out. His recent September 6th release of Orphan Alien Part 1 EP debuted at #31 on the iTunes Electronic Chart, and his Single Shine is currently ranked at #10 on Beatport’s Glitch Hop chart. Having reached the next level, expect to see the VibeSquaD circus packing even bigger clubs, theaters, and festivals across the country, and around the world. The VibeSquaD has arrived.

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Tickets are available ONLINE at Blueprintevents.ca: http://blueprintevents.ca/events/55671/614/RICHIE-HAWTIN—-STEREOTYPE—BLUEPRINT-+-INTIMATE-Celebrities-Nightclub.html

Canada's RICHIE HAWTIN has made his mark on electronic music by being both inventive and innovative. His career takes him all over the world with tour dates in over 25 nations on average each year. Born in Banbury, England, his family moved to Windsor in the late 1970's. As a teenager Hawtin found inspiration to make music from a combination of techno music from Detroit, his father's record collection and an obsession with computers, video games and science fiction. As a recording artist, producer, remixer, live performer and DJ, his productions are recorded in Windsor and released on his now legendary Plus 8 & Minus record labels. Today, in between touring the globe he spends time in his studios in Windsor, Canada and Berlin, Germany.

With over fifteen years of DJ experience, Hawtin has headlined some of the most prestigious festivals and events in club culture to date and continues to define rather than follow musical trends. Internationally in demand, from Seoul to Sydney, San Francisco to Sao Paulo or Dublin to Istanbul, Hawtin's developed sound of entertaining and interesting DJ art continues to push dance music into the future. His DJ reputation has earned him many Best International DJ awards with fans and the music industry.

On record it was Hawtin's recording moniker of PLASTIKMAN that put him in the limelight, with a mix of techno and ambient sounds. His dedication to his craft has also received notoriety, performing live with the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra, creating sound installations for the French Ministry of Culture's Millennium Celebration and composing music for the Torino 2006 XXth Olympic Winter Games opening ceremonies.

Not content with technology of today, Hawtin has had a unique vision in developing creative options for musicians to create and perform electronic music with, most notably with early involvement in the Final Scratch DJ system and his own modifications to DJ equipment. His attention to detail and desire to push the envelope both in the studio and on the stage continues to be his beacon of determination in addition to being Canada's electronic music ambassador.

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MACHiNENOiSY’s Law of ProximityEvent on 2012-08-15 20:00:00
Law of Proximity is a performance project that brings together, award winning sound artist, Stefan Smulovitz, MACHiNENOiSY’s co creators Delia Brett and Daelik and queer youth to interact around the themes of intimacy, proximity and identity.

MACHiNENOiSY directors are working together with, professional dancers Chris Wright and Jennifer McLeish Lewis to train up to 8 gay, lesbian, bi sexual and transgender youth in the artistic practices of contact improvisation, story telling and sound technology.

Law of Proximity engages Vancouver’s young and developing Queer, Gay, Lesbian and Transgendered community in an exciting and informative physical dialogue on, performance, art, identity and communication. Law of Proximity highlights MACHiNENOiSY distinct perspective on dance, and new media, and extends the points of intersection between the gay and lesbian perspective and our heterosexually dominant society.

The Queer Arts Festival in Vancouver is an annual showcase of queer arts, culture and history. It celebrates the unique creative expressions of visual and performing artists who identify as part of the queer communities. QAF features a curated visual arts show, a community art show, and 3 dynamic weeks of cutting-edge performances and workshops from all artistic disciplines, including music, dance, theatre, literary and media arts from July 31 – Aug18/12.

Peruvian Festival In VancouverEvent on 2012-07-28 12:00:00
We like to invite you to the first Peruvian Festival in Vancouver, BC.
Entertainment for the whole family
Food Vendors
Crafts & Arts
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Young Empires with guests Gang SignsEvent on 2012-06-28 20:00:00
YOUNG EMPIRES with GANG SIGNS Thursday June 28, 2012 The Biltmore Cabaret, Vancouver BC Doors at 8pm Show at 9pm Tickets On Sale 10am on Friday May 18 in Advance // at the Door 19+ Tickets at Northern Tickets, Zulu Records, Red Cat Records www.northerntickets.com 604-569-1144 Making a grand impression on Team Perryscope at the mythical SXSW, sights were set and Perryscope Concerts & Vogue Productions are proud to bring to fruition Young Empires at the Biltmore Cabaret. Young Empires’ formative years were marked by the release of early home demo recordings. A few of these songs ended up charting high on Hype Machine, and Germany’s FM4 Radio, ultimately igniting the Toronto three-piece’s international acclaim. Since their lofty formation in October 2009, Young Empires’ self described genre of “world beat haute rock” has been featured on TV shows and has established crossover appeal with in the fashion industry. Young Empires is ready to embark on a new journey and the next stage of their career with the release of their anthemic debut EP, Wake All My Youth. Joining Young Empires at The Biltmore will be Vancouver's own Gang Signs. A haunting electronic outfit featuring Peter Ricq from Humans. Though the group is relatively new to the music scene, Gang Signs wasted no time playing regularly about town and are certainly getting noticed. They recently released a new downloadable track, "LA on Monday" (link below). Perryscopes Picks Young Empires – White Doves http://youtu.be/SJ9ERviHoCI Gang Signs – LA on Monday http://winniecooper.net/2012/05/l-a-on-monday/

Pink Martini: Shaken and StirredOrpheum Theatre Friday, August 17, 2012 @ 8:00 pm Dress up for a grand night of seriously cool music as Pink Martini brings its lush ‘60s technicolor sound to a hot Vancouver summer night! The thirteen members of Pink Martini offer a highly polished blend of multilingual musical virtuosity in a combination of class and kitsch, swooning nostalgia, and deliriously romantic melodies to delight you. Pink Martini draws inspiration from the romantic Hollywood musicals of the 1940s or ‘50s with a more global perspective. Like musical archeologists digging through scores and recordings of years past, Pink Martini rediscovers beautiful songs – bridging the divide between high brow and pop culture.

"If the United Nations had a house band in 1962," says Pink Martini's bandleader and pianist, Thomas Lauderdale, "then hopefully we'd be that band."Tickets: .00-.00BUY NOW

"There is no theory. You have only to listen. Pleasure is the law. I love music passionately. And because I love it, I try to free it from the barren traditions that stifle it." Claude Debussy

One of the great pillars of musical modernism, Debussy is "the composer without whose investigations of texture, colour, form and feeling, the vast majority of 20th century music could not have been written." To mark the 150th anniversary of Debussy's birth, MusicFest Vancouver is proud to welcome two of Debussy's foremost exponents, French pianists Philippe Cassard and François Chaplin. In this recital for four hands and two pianos, the artists celebrate a genre that Debussy took immense pleasure in playing with friends throughout his life. Cassard and Chaplin will perform a program that includes the sensual Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune, the jaunty Petite Suite, a recently rediscovered piano version of the Première Suite pour Orchestre.Tickets: .00 (Adults), .00 (Student/Senior)BUY NOW

World at the Garden: New York VoicesVanDusen Botanical Garden Sunday, August 19, 2012 @ 7:00 pm MusicFest Vancouver closes with an al fresco evening featuring New York Voices ­- cool vocal jazz on a hot summer night on the Great Lawn of VanDusen Botanical Garden. Celebrating their 25th year, this Grammy Award-winning vocal ensemble is renowned for their excellence in jazz and the art of group singing. Like the great groups that have come before, such as Lambert, Hendricks and Ross, Singers Unlimited, and Manhattan Transfer, they have learned from the best and taken the art form to new levels. While rooted in jazz, New York Voices calls on influences ranging from R&B, Brazilian, classical, and pop music to create a fresh exciting sound. They have traveled the globe performing with artists such as Bobby McFerrin, Nancy Wilson, George Benson, and the Count Basie Orchestra. Bring a picnic and settle in for a vocal jazz treat!

Children 12 and under admitted free when accompanied by a ticket-holding adult (maximum 2 children per adult).

Festival seating on the Great Lawn. Chairs not provided. Please bring your own festival chair (max 8" legs) or blanket. Designated areas at either side of the Great Lawn for patrons bringing full height chairs.Tickets: .00 (Adult), .00 (Student/Senior)BUY NOW

Order by phone: 604.684.2787 Additional .00 per order for phone orders.

2012 – The Fair at the PNEEvent on 2012-08-18 00:00:00
The Fair at the PNE features live shows for kids and families, daily concerts, cultural programming, the beloved Superdogs, mini donuts and Crazy Dogs, the PNE Prize Home and unique international and local shopping at the Marketplace. Come experience the best part of summer at the Fair at the PNE! Located just 10 minutes from downtown Vancouver at Hastings and Renfrew. Children 13 and under receive free admission.

Schweizer Klaviertrio: Chamber GemsChrist Church Cathedral Saturday, August 11, 2012 @ 5:00 pm The Swiss Piano Trio is one of the most acclaimed chamber ensembles of its generation. MusicFest Vancouver is pleased to welcome these three outstanding musicians to their final stop in a cross-Canada tour, following performances for Ottawa's Chamberfest and Parry Sound's Festival of the Sound. Pianist Martin Lucas Staub, violinist Angela Golubeva and cellist Sébastien Singer have chosen a playful work by Mozart to begin their program before introducing Vancouver audiences to two Swiss composers. Rudolf Kelterborn's Moments Musicaux are brief and witty pieces written in 2006, while Paul Juon's neo-Romantic tone poem Litaniae, Op.70 dates from 1920. The sweeping romanticism of Brahms' Piano Trio No.2 in C Major closes the concert in grand style. Known for its power and clarity, this work abounds in gorgeous melody and is one of the most popular pieces in the trio repertoire.BUY NOW

Quartango: Tangos from the Barrios to the BallroomChrist Church Cathedral Sunday, August 12, 2012 @ 5:00 pm When classically trained musicians come together to explore their passion for tango, the result is nothing short of delightful. Quartango takes tango in new directions, with impeccable arrangements, subtle and unexpected allusions to classical music, and a liberal dose of humour, all woven together by the elegant interplay of ensemble playing at its best.

Quartango's program ranges from the classic tangos to tango nuevo and Piazzolla. They also explore other genres, from jazz and opera to waltzes and jigs, in their own inimitable style. Quartango has charmed audiences across Canada and the United States, and in Tokyo, Taipei, Paris and São Paulo. They stole the show at Carnegie Hall with the New York Pops, and have also appeared with the National Arts Centre Orchestra and the Orchestre Métropolitain. This past summer Quartango performed outdoor concerts with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, attracting a total of more than 60,000 spectators. BUY NOW

Legends: The Whitening of the Ox & The FirebirdVancouver Playhouse Sunday, August 12, 2012 @ 8:00 pm MusicFest Vancouver is proud to present the Turning Point Ensemble in Legends, a performance that incorporates multi-media components in a compelling musical response to works of the past. Jeffrey Ryan's recent commission is based on The Whitening of the Ox (Inside the Zen Ox Pictures) by Canadian poet K.V. Skene. This extended vocal/instrumental work incorporates 15th-century illustrations by Tensho Shubun of a Chinese fable, and features Canadian baritone Tyler Duncan. Just as an Oxherd domesticates a beast, the series depicts the Zen Buddhist concept representing the taming of the disordered mind and the ultimate attainment of enlightenment.

Stravinsky's landmark ballet score The Firebird undergoes a metamorphosis at the hand of BC composer Michael Bushnell (from TPE's Rio Tinto Alcan Performing Arts Award winning production). It is inspired by a Russian legend about the adventures of young prince Ivan and his search for the most beautiful bird in the world: The Firebird.BUY NOW

Bergmann Piano Duo & Gamelan Si Pawit: Ancient Cultures New SoundsChrist Church Cathedral Monday, August 13, 2012 @ 8:00 pm In the 1930s, the Montreal-born composer Colin McPhee fell in love with the music of Bali. His passion led him to remain there for several years, studying the music and composing. The piano duo (and musical couple) of Elizabeth and Marcel Bergmann explore some of the Balinese music that McPhee transcribed for two pianos decades before "world music" became widespread. They'll also present music of similar inspiration, and team up with Vancouver Community College's Gamelan Si Pawit, for a work that juxtaposes gongs with Glenn Gould and the Goldberg Variations! The entrancing sounds of tuned metallophones, drums, gongs and xylophones that make up the Sundanese gamelan will also resound in a travelogue of new sonic destinations.BUY NOW

Gryphon Trio with Patricia O'Callaghan: Broken Hearts & MadmenOrpheum Theatre Annex Thursday, August 16, 2012 @ 8:00 pm The Gryphon Trio teams up with vocalist Patricia O'Callaghan (hailed by Billboard as "the most promising cabaret performer of her generation") to present their genre-stretching concert of songs and tangos from the Americas. O'Callaghan trained as an opera singer but was soon drawn to the music of Leonard Cohen and Kurt Weill. A multilingual performer who has recorded everything from Erik Satie to Bob Dylan, O'Callaghan fell in love with Hispanic music while living in Mexico as a teenager.

The engaging program for Broken Hearts & Madmen includes songs by Nick Drake, Leonard Cohen, Lhasa de Sela, Laurie Anderson, Elvis Costello, Astor Piazzolla and more, and showcases the Gryphon Trio at its adventurous and groundbreaking best. Beautiful songs sung in an intimate cabaret setting by a renowned singer in collaboration with an internationally acclaimed piano trio – this is sure to be a festival highlight and seating is limited, so purchase early to avoid disappointment!BUY NOW

Carpe Diem String Quartet: Big Sky Big CityChrist Church Cathedral Saturday, August 18, 2012 @ 5:00 pm From the time of its founding in 2005, Carpe Diem has won critical praise for its mastery of the classical chamber music canon, as well as its ability to expand upon the traditional string music repertoire. The group showcases works inspired by both rural and urban settings, including Dvořák's much-loved American string quartet. It was written during Dvořák's summer vacation in Spillville, Iowa, home to a community of Czech immigrants. Carpe Diem's founding violist, Korine Fujiwara, is also a gifted composer and arranger. Raised amid the majestic scenery of Big Sky country, her Fiddle Suite: Montana depicts five favorite scenic spots in a work about family and tradition. Serving as a contrast will be music of George Gershwin and Duke Ellington, stretching from New York City's Tin Pan Alley and Harlem to the hustle of Hollywood.BUY NOW

Tickets:Adult – .00 Student/Senior – .00

Order by phone: 604.684.2787 Additional .00 per order for phone orders.

Vancouver Recital Society presents Andràs SchiffEvent on 2012-10-05 00:00:00
A perfect pairing of artist and music: Andràs Schiff's performances of Bach's music have reached an unparalleled standard. With exquisite elegance, illuminating beauty and glistening vitality, Schiff's interpretations have long established him as one of the foremost proponents of Bach's keyboard music. This is music-making of the highest order and an evening destined to be one of the great musical events of the season.

Marc-André Hamelin, pianoEvent on 2012-11-04 15:00:00
Presented by the Vancouver Recital Society as part of the Classic Afternoons Series at the Chan Centre.

Every era has had a few performers whose unimaginable virtuosity places them in a category unto themselves. Described as a “super virtuoso” by Harold Schonberg in The New York Times, Marc-André Hamelin is such a performer.

His incredible mastery, infused with an impression of spontaneity, makes Hamelin one of the stand-out pianists of the present day.

Inside It Failed The Day He QuitEvent on 2012-07-06 20:00:00
The Cellar Nightclub presents: Inside It Failed & The Day He Quit live in concert. Inside it Failed – https://www.facebook.com/insideitfailed The Day He Quit – https://www.facebook.com/thedayhequit Tickets available at http://www.ticketweb.ca/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=4700475 or via the band members.

Arts Club Theatre Company presents Ride the CycloneEvent on 2013-01-17 00:00:00
A high school chamber choir from Uranium, Saskatchewan, perishes in a freak roller-coaster accident, and the Amazing Karnack, a mechanized fortune-teller, feels responsible. To make amends, he brings the teens back to life to sing about their thwarted dreams and desires in one final concert. Created by Victoria's Atomic Vaudeville, the wildly imaginative and darkly hilarious Ride the Cyclone is already being lauded as a contemporary musical masterpiece.

Vancouver Queer Film FestivalEvent on 2012-08-16 00:00:00
For 11 days each August, the Vancouver Queer Film Festival brings the very best in queer independent cinema from around the world to Vancouver. As the city's second largest film festival, we privilege creative innovation and audience experience.

Each summer, this celebrated event brings people together to watch incredible films, talk to filmmakers and artists, engage in scintillating discussions, experience unexpected performances and paint the town pink!

Vancouver International Busker FestivalEvent on 2012-07-07 00:00:00What is the Vancouver International Busker Festival? It is a world class event that brings talent from all over the globe to convene on the streets of Vancouver for one spectacular week to dazzle and amaze the citizens and visitors of our beautiful city.

The Vancouver International Busker Festival will be held between July 7th to 15th, 2012, in partnership with the City of Vancouver, the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association (DVBIA) the West End Business Improvement Association (WEBIA) and Canada Place. With their generous support, we will be programming the streets of Downtown Vancouver (Granville Street, Davie Street, Denman Street and Canada Place) with the most renowned and spectacular street performers in the world. Many of those acts based right here in Vancouver, British Columbia; and the vision is to create an exciting community bonding atmosphere, engaging local businesses and recapture the dynamic vibrancy of the 2010 Olympics

We have an exciting array of performances coming to Vancouver. They will delight and scare you, they will bring art, music, dangerous stunts, and an impressive range of human capabilities on display over the course of this festival.

July 14th and 15th is our grande finale on Granville Street and Canada Place!